Representatives from the Government of Honduras, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) of the United States Government, and the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI) signed a Declaration of Commitment for Co-financing. This declaration commits MCC to provide US$ 87.9 million and CABEI to US$ 130 million for a total of US$ 217.9 million. These funds will be used for the expansion of the Tegucigalpa – Taulabé Highway (beginning and ending in the Comayagua valley).

Signing the declaration were the Finance Secretary, Rebeca Santos; US Deputy Secretary of State and the Acting Chair of the MCC Board of Directors, John Negroponte; Presidential Office Secretary, Enrique Flores Lanza; and CABEI Acting Executive President, Nick Rischbieth. Also present were US Ambassador Charles Ford and Esther Aleman, the Honduras Millennium Account Director for Transport Projects.

An additional US$ 130 million will be provided by the Honduras Millennium Account and used for the expansion of four highway lanes of CA-5 North.

CABEI, a Central American organization with international prestige, contributed 41.6% of its 2007 approvals to regional infrastructure projects. By this manner, CABEI contributed to regional economic integration and to the insertion of Central America into the global economy, two of CABEI’s strategic axes.

This project will create 5,000 permanent jobs and will benefit more than 2 million individuals who annually use Highway CA-5 North, Honduras’ main connection route.

About the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)

The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) is a United States Government corporation designed to work with some of the poorest countries in the world. Established in January 2004, MCC is based on the principle that aid is most effective when it reinforces good governance, economic freedom and investments in people. MCC’s mission is to reduce global poverty through the promotion of sustainable economic growth

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